Last season the Arizona Cardinals entered the season with the hopes that their newly acquired QB was the answer to the teams offensive problems. This season the Cardinals will have the same exact hopes. I believe this time they're set up to succeed. New HC Bruce Arians had great success last year while coaching the Colts for the sick Chuck Pagano. Mostly due to the offense he ran, and his tutelage of rookie Andrew Luck. Much like Luck, Palmer has a great football mind. Finding the open guy is something he's always done. Palmer coming over from the Raiders may have just given Arians the QB he needs to get this Arizona offense firing right out the gate this season.
Much like in Indy Arians will have to battle having a below average offensive line. Whether it was Kolb, Lindley, or Skelton last season at QB for the Cardinals they were under pressure. If the offensive line can stay healthy the whole year Palmer should be alright. The Cardinals were also smart in signing ex-Steeler Rashard Mendenhall to a 1 year deal. With them expecting Ryan Williams back healthy next season Mendenhall could be the between the tackles runner. Williams can spell him, adding some speed more of an edge threat. More importantly both are pretty good in the protection game, so Palmer will get more help staying clean. In the end if Palmer has a pocket and time to throw the ball, he can and will get it done for any team. His problems in Oakland have been because of a lack of talent period.
While in Cincinnati Palmer had a great group of WR's. Not so much while on the Raiders. The Cardinals are trying to give Palmer the type of weapons he had while playing with the Bengals. As we all know the Cardinals still have Larry Fitzgerald. Last season they took Michael Floyd out of Notre Dame. He showed signs of being a top flight WR, add Andre Roberts to that equation and there's a group that could be some trouble. Given the right offense like a no huddle hurry up style I think they could put up huge numbers. Last season Arians used the hurry up offense in Indy allowing Luck to control a lot of the audible off what he saw. Palmer has the same ability to do the same thing. He proved that while playing for the Bengals.
Last season with the Oakland Raiders Carson Palmer threw for 4,018 yards and threw 22 TD's. His leading receiver was his TE Brandon Myers with 806 yards. Myers also led the team in receptions with 79. Second in receptions was FB Marcel Reece with 52. Palmer used what he had in Oakland but he didn't have enough. Already in Arizona are the pieces that Palmer never had in Oakland. Along with the offensive mind of Bruce Arians I believe the Cardinals could be a dangerous team to face this season.
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